سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 15
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَـٰلُهُم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ ۩ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And unto Allâh (Alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and in the afternoons.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلِلَّهِ
walillahi
And to Allah
يَسْجُدُ
yasjudu
prostrates
مَن
man
whoever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
طَوْعًۭا
ṭawʿan
willingly
وَكَرْهًۭا
wakarhan
or unwillingly
وَظِلَـٰلُهُم
waẓilāluhum
and (so do) their shadows
بِٱلْغُدُوِّ
bil-ghuduwi
in the mornings
وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ ۩
wal-āṣāli
and in the afternoons
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah15) ➊ {وَ لِلّٰهِ يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ …:} The meaning of sajdah is to bring the highest and most honorable part of the body lower than low before someone, expressing utmost humility before them. Thus, everything in the universe is expressing its humility and helplessness before Allah Almighty in this way. There is no difference between a Muslim and a disbeliever in this; however, man has been given a little choice to walk on the path of Paradise or Hell, apart from this, he is prostrating before Allah in every way, even unwillingly, and compared to Allah’s power, his own power over himself is not even one percent, not even one in a thousand. If anyone doubts this, let him try to hold his breath, stop his hunger or thirst, hold back urine or stool, if illness comes, let him stand firm and say, “I do not get sick,” stop old age from coming and hair from turning white, if the heartbeat stops, let him try to start it, if the kidneys fail, let him try to make them work, he can lift one leg, let him try to lift the other as well, let him show arrogance before the Angel of Death. In short, every rational and irrational being and their shadows, willingly or unwillingly, are prostrating before Allah alone. Then, to plead with such a helpless being, to call someone “Data,” someone “Dastgir,” someone “Gharib Nawaz,” someone “Mushkil Kusha,” how great a folly is this! Here, also see the translation and exegesis of Surah Al-Hajj, verse (18).
➋ { وَ ظِلٰلُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْاٰصَالِ : } That is, the shrinking and lengthening of their shadows is also by His will and decree. The mention of the earlier and later parts of the day is because at these times the shadow of everything on the earth is prominent, and in terms of worship, these are both excellent times. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “And the shadows spread on the earth at morning and evening, this is their sajdah.” (Mowdih)
➋ { وَ ظِلٰلُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْاٰصَالِ : } That is, the shrinking and lengthening of their shadows is also by His will and decree. The mention of the earlier and later parts of the day is because at these times the shadow of everything on the earth is prominent, and in terms of worship, these are both excellent times. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “And the shadows spread on the earth at morning and evening, this is their sajdah.” (Mowdih)
